Digital content catering system

Abstract

Electronic content information is being catered via a data network. A consumer is enabled to request delivery via the network of a specific piece of content before a deadline selectable by the consumer. The catering service then completes the delivery before the deadline under control of a bandwidth profile of data traffic on at least a segment of the network. The scheduling of delivery deadlines enables the service to optimize usage of the network's bandwidth while maintaining a quality of service.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of catering content via a data network, the method comprising: 
 enabling to request delivery via the network of a specific piece of content before a selectable deadline; and    completing the delivery before the deadline under control of a bandwidth profile of data traffic on at least a segment of the network.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising offering different pieces of the content that are selectable for completion of delivery by different deadlines.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising providing a menu of respective pieces of the content selectable for the delivery.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the specific piece of content is requested by a specific consumer, the method comprising: 
 downloading the specific piece to an edge server in a proximity to the consumer; and    offering the specific piece for delivery to at least another consumer in the proximity of the edge server.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising charging a higher price for delivery before a shorter deadline.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , comprising: 
 adapting the menu based on the specific piece of content scheduled for delivery via an edge server to a first consumer; and    providing the menu to a second consumer in a proximity of an edge server.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising encoding the piece with scalable play-out quality.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising offering a package of multiple pieces of content for delivery via the network before the selectable deadline.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data network comprises a cable network.  
     
     
         10 . Software for a data processing apparatus, wherein: 
 the apparatus has a network interface for communicating with a data network;    the software enables to render a user interface;    the user interface enables a user to request via a menu a delivery via the network of a specific piece of content information;    the user interface enables the user to specify a deadline for the delivery of the specific piece of content information.    
     
     
         11 . The software of  claim 10 , enabling the user to select the deadline from a plurality of deadlines based on progressive pricing of the delivery for shorter deadlines.  
     
     
         12 . A communication apparatus comprising: 
 software for enabling to render a user interface; wherein: 
 the user interface enables a user to select a specific piece of content from a menu;  
 the interface enables to communicate a request for delivery of the specific piece of content information via a data network;  
 the user interface enables the user to communicate a deadline for the delivery of the specific piece of content information.  
   
     
     
         13 . A menu for supply to a consumer via a data network, wherein the menu comprises identifiers of a plurality of pieces of content to enable the consumer to select of a specific piece of content for delivery via the data network before a deadline selectable by the consumer.